My mom was up from Florida and we were out driving today. She said she always wanted an old classic kit car she could drive daily. I mentioned to her my upcoming Locost plans but it wasn't what she was thinking. I remembered that Specialty Auto Sports did a 356 with a Subaru power train. I told her we could stop by (it was about 15 miles from where we were.)
Boy was it worth it.
His 356 replicas are absolutely fabulous! The thing is you can't buy them as a kit. They are completed cars. The only big thing I could tell that wasn't done in house was the bodies and paint.
They had a finished customers car out front that we got to sit in. At 6'5" I fit better than I do in a NA and NB Miata. I saw one in the middle of build and the chassis is absolutely wonderful and safe. He uses all Subaru running gear, brakes and suspension. So the 175 HP 2.5 boxer engine in a 2300 lbs car scoots!
If anyone has a chance and are in Knoxville I recommend a visit and mention the board. (I mentioned to them the $20XX challenge. He loved the concept. I also told him about the ultimate track car challenge). These guys have a good business and from all I could tell they seem to build a quality product.
Anyone going to drop ~$40K on a new Boxster I would seriously consider one these guys cars first.
P.S. My mom is totally thinking of getting one in the next year or two. I love my Momma
Link to a test drive
Link to Specialty Auto Sports Website
Showed it to my wife. She wants a 356 coupe now. Awesome.
Good thing my keyboard is on a drawer that was closed when I opened the links as I'm sure I would have ruined it with all the drool. Awsome. Now I want one. Even have a 904 Spider they make also. I think I need a smoke now.
I really dislike convertibles, but that is beautiful. I always picture the 356 in silver, but I dig that shade of maroon.
Can you get them with a manual trans? I just saw reference to an auto. Still worth a trip from Nashville to check them out.
In reply to Cotton:
They're in Knoxville. So depending on which side of Nashvegas you are on only about 2.5 hours
The partially finished one I saw today was a manual, the one I sat in was an auto.
I asked him and he said it was about a 50/50 split between auto and manual.
When I was there they were fitting the top to a new one.
Oh yeah Mitchell,
You mean like this?
For me that is very close to how I would order it. Different wheels and I would go cabriolet windshield instead of this speedster one. I would get him to add a couple of roll hoops and definitely keep the flairs.
WRX 2.5 Turbo please :)
In reply to Tyler H:
Those are the worst kind.
Can they legally use the "Porsche" tags on the car?
I keep looking at their terrible terrible web site. A coupe, five speed, turbo motor, AC. That would be one hell of a fun $40k car to drive around for a decade or so. Probably wouldn't depreciate any further than any other new-ish $40k you could buy either. Man.
I think one of those would look really nice on a set of the new Beetle wheels like these.
I look at it as a new Boxster vs a Specialty Auto 356.
Which would you spend $40k on?
I know the badges are Speciality Auto Sports but the Porsche lettering is well just that. A cool factoid is that the original 356 top fits their cars.
BTW:
What was up with the Canuck Canoe comment?
Depending on powertrain you get for $40k... if it was the 2.5 turbo, it would be a very good question.... otherwise, I really really like the new Boxsters.
You ain't gettin' a new Boxster for 40K...
50, maybe...
If my memory is correct it is $41K for the Turbo stick.
So $41K for 356 or $50K for a Boxster.
Site kind of sucks.
Where is the radiator? Radiators that are not directly in airflow can be less then ideal.
I like the idea. Don't really like the look of the flares on the coupe. They look OK on the convert and speedster.
My wife has had a Cayman S on her list of cars to buy when her ship comes in, that or the TT RS. The 356 coupe just knocked it off the top of the list. She's pricing one out and quizzing me if I can get the garage fixed. If all goes well her ship should be coming in this fall, and that's about how much money she was going to set aside for fun. Lots of serious thinking to do.
The radiator is in the rear, Should be fine given what appeared to be a triple core aluminum monster.
Mazdeuce your wife has good taste.
Yeah I agree the site needs lots of work.
